Variable lead grip sleeve for mechanical pencils



M. E. SAVOIE was. 12,, 195@ (I VARIABLE LEAD GRIP SLEEVE FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed Aug. 11, 1949' 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

Dec, 12 ESQ M. E. SAVQHE 2953395313 VARIABLE LEAD GRIP SLEEVE FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed Aug. 11, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F56. 5 F9 G0 INVENTOR.

W M M Patented Dec. 12, 1950 VARIABLE LEAD GRIP SLEEVE FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Mark E. Savoie, Cleveland, Ohio Application August 11, 1949, Serial No. 109,728-

4 Claims.

I My invention relates to a new and improved lead grip sleeve for propel-retract mechanical pencils capable of receiving and holding any one of many leads of numerous diameters, shapes or lengths.

The present-day market demands many difier ent leads and thus now necessitates a mechanical pencil adapted to receive leads of many different shapes, diameters or lengths. For example, at

present there is on the market a standard lead of one,of the above-mentioned leads.

Prior to this time, it has been common in all mechanical pencils, as cited above, that the lead grip sleeve be constructed to hold only one diameter lead. This necessitates the carrying of more than one pencil in ones pocket if they desire the use of a different diameter lead.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is to provide a variable lead grip sleeve for a propel-retract pencil which will receive and hold any desired one of many leads of numerous sizes, shapes or diameters.

Another object of my invention is to provide a variable lead grip sleeve for a prdpel-retract mechanical pencil wherein the lead grip sleeve automatically adapts itself to the desired one of the many shapes, diameters or sizes of leads inserted therein.

Another object of my invention is to form the variable lead grip sleeve of resilient tempered metal with gripping fingers, whereby the fingers automatically grip any desired one of the nu-- merous leads of different lengths, diameters or shapes when the lead grip sleeve is withdrawn by manual operation into the lead gri sleeve guide and helix.

Another object of my invention is to provide the lead gripping fingers of the variable lead grip sired one of many leads of numerous lengths,

shapes or diameters when the collet type tip is under spring tension.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an enlarged, broken elevational view, partly in cross-section, of my mechanical pencil having the improved lead holder;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to that of Figure l with a lead inserted in the pencil;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 1; l

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lead holder used in my pencil;

Figure 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of Flgure' l;

Figure 6 is a view along the line Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lead holder with an ejection pin therein.

My new, improved lead gripv sleeve, capable of receiving and holding any one of many leads oi numerous diameters, shapes or sizes, is enclosed in a pencil barrel Ii! having a hollow pencil tip l l fastened to one end thereof. In my assembled propel-retract mechanical pencil, I provide a lead chamber or guide tube l2 fitted in a helix l3 and s-s er I slidably carrying therein my new lead holder or grip sleeve [4. The lead chamber or guide tube 12, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as a collet type member, extends through thehollow tip H and is disposed for reciprocal movement axially of the pencil barrel ill in an inward direction and in an outward direction relative to the hollow pencil tip. I

I have provided the pencil barrel with an axially internally grooved or splined sleeve 15.

The lead chamber or guide tube 12 is supported for axial movement by a toothed ring it, which cooperatively engages the grooves on the inside of the sleeve [5. This toothed ring 16 may be press-fitted on the lead chamber or guide tube 12 or fastened thereto by any suitable means whereby the lead, chamber does not rotate relative to the pencil barrel. The lead grip sleeve 14 is axially slidable Within the flead chamber 12 to propel or retract a lead out of or into the lead chamber 12. The lead grip sleeve I4 has a pin H which extends outwardly through an elongated slot l8 in the lead chamber to engage the helix 13. The helix I3 is manually rotatable relative to the lead chambenor guide tube 12 to axially propel or retract the lead grip sleeve I4. The collet type lead chamber or guide tube-l2 has axially extended grip tip portions l9, which may be extended outwardly beyond the pencil tip I I when the pencil is assembled. These grip tip portions I9 are designed to engage under spring tension any one of many leads of mimerous diameters, shapes or sizes which may be inserted in and received by the lead chamber I2. The lead chamber I2 and the extended grip tip portions I3 are constructed of resilient material whereby, the grip tip vportions, are: normally divergent and tend to radially spread;

A spring member is disposed within the pencil tip end of the pencil barrel and is assembled with the lead chamber to; urgethe-lead chamber in the inward direction. Tin-:Figure 2 of my drawings, I illustrate the lead chamber being urged in the inward direction with the-' grip I9 in cammed; engagement with.

tip portions the pencil tip II and gripping a pencil lead 29.

The spring member 20 is axially compressedtomove. the lead chamber I2 in the outward directiomrela-tive to. :thewpenoil barrel I a to release the coilet-type grip'onthedead.

The springxmember 2.0 is keptinproperyalignmentzin: the pencil 1 barrel. by means; of spring guide members 2I and 22. The guide memberZl abuts the geared bushingr: I6 and: the guidememhern a-buts the:pencilftip- I Iwith the spring 20 disposed therebetweenaand normally tending to separate the guideimembersi The helix- I3 is disposed on the backside of 3 the geared bushing I6 or on the rearend o'fthe leadchamber' I 2. The helix- I3 is-fastened to the lead chamber I 2 by abuttingtheend of the helix with a' washer: 23- and crimping the end-of the lead chamber I2. In Figures 1 and 2..of my drawings; I best illustrate that'- the'-= helix I3 moves axially with the lead chamber I2 when the lead chamber is axiallymoved*relativeto the pencil barrel. The helix I3 may also be rotated relative to the lead chamber I2= by=- an operating sleeve 24, which extends out of the eraser: end of the pencil barrel Ill to supportan-eraser-ZS. A sleeve 25' is tightly fitted onto the end of the helix I3 nearest the toothed ring I6 and engages the operating sleeve 24, as illustrated in-Figures l and 2. This sleeve 2'6- 'extendsbeyondthe end of the' helix I3 to e'ngagethe toothed ring It and thereby provideaspacebetween the ring I6 andthe helix I3;

As is-best illustratediin Figures 4, 5 a-nd'6 of my drawings; the lead holder I4- is preferablycon structed from a stamping or-flat-sheet of material. In Figures 4; 5-and 6,.I'i1lustrate the blank which may be rolledto-formthe lead holder I4. This blank is'an elongated rectangular piece, having a slot28 therein and thepin II on-the-surface; thereof, andatone end of'the slot. 28.: Although I." have illustrated that this pin Il may be formed" by partially punching through the blank, it is. understood that a separatev piece of material may. be;used.and1welded to the blank. Thejslot 28. extends. longitudinally of the blank, which will form the leadholder I4.-v and is dis.- posedlat one. end thereon Ihave provided the other end .ofthe lead holder I4 with fingers; 3!]. These fingers 36 extend axially oftheleadholder or-lead grip sleeve. [Land are. slightly bowed, as illustrated in.Figures:1-,,2.and7. The lead grip sleeve; and theaxlally extended bowed fingers are preferably constructed of resilient material. for gripping a-leadinsertedtherebetween. For purposes of.description, ,each of the fingers 30 is described as. having a bowed portion 3 I terminatingzinaatip portion 32. Thetip portions 32 extend radially. outward from: the; axis oi: the... grip 4 sleeve I4 so that a lead may be forced there between. I have also constructed the fingers 30 slightly concave to provide a concave lead engagement surface 33, as illustrated in Figure 6, to provide tightly frictional engagement of the fingers on a lead inserted therebetween.

The lead holder or lead grip sleeve I4 supports a push pin 34 axially movable therein and having a lug; 35 extending.: outwardly: through the slot 28'. The lug 35'engages the helix I5 to axially move the push pin 34 in and out of the space between the fingers 30 upon rotation the helix: I3; In Figure 1, I illustrate the push pin pushed so that it extends outwardly through the fingers 30 and through the grip tip portions I9-of the lead chamber I2. Thus, any lead in thalead chamberor between the fingers 38 may very easily be removed therefrom. Turning o? the-operating sleeve 24 and thereby the helix relative to the pencil barrel II] retracts the push pin: 34' into the lead holder- I4; as: illustrated; in Figure 2, a-nd'positions'the log 35 against-thaend of the slot-'28. Whenthexlug 35 hits' theendof the slot 28, further turning-of the helix I33 moves the pin I! on the lead holder into the helix I3; thus permitting-the lead holder I4: to; be retractedintothe-pencil. A lead insertedsin thefingers 36 0f thelead holder I 4;: will be drawn lor retracted into the pencil.

The push pin '34 is put in-the lead holder=-I4.:with the lug 35 extending throughthe slot 23; during the construction of the lead holder IQ. The blank illustrated-in Figure .aisirolled 'around the push pin therein, as illustrateddnFigureT; The axial'movement 0f the push pin relative tothe lead holder or lead g-ripsleeve issufficient to per mit the push pin 34 tobe-propelled"through-- the grip tip portions-lfl' of the' leadchamber' I2; The bowed portions 3| of'the fingers 30 engage the inner surface 38- of the lead chamber-or guide sleeve I2 and are tended to be flattened out-thereby to grip a lead. Withmy lead holder t4 having the bowed fingers 30 cooperatively engaging the inner surface SB'ofthe-lead chamber- I2', I can use any desired lead of the difierent leads presently sold on the market.

In using my mechanical pencil; the operating sleeve 24 may be pushed axially of" thepencil barrel In to move thelead chamber lithe-helix I3; and the lead holder I4 in an "outward direc tion, permitting sliding and expanding ofthe grip tip portions I9. Rotationof theoperating sleeve 24 rotates the helix I3 relative to the lea-2i chamber I2 to axially move the lea-d'gripsleeve I 4 and the push pin .34 therewith. The-operating sleeve. 24 may be simultaneously 'moved'axia'lly-of the pencil barrel") to release the gripping pressure of the grip tip portions. IS on a leadandrc tated to either propel or retract the lead grip sleeve and a leadinserted'therein.

Although my invention has been described" in its preferred form with a certain degree/biparticularity, it is understood that thepresent dis closure of the preferred form has. been. madeonly by way of example and, that numerouschanges inv the details of construction. and the .combina tion and arrangement ,of parts may. be. resnrted to without departing from the splritand the. scope of. the invention as hereinafter. claimed,

What isclaimed is:

1. In the propeleretractmechanism oi-iaapencil adapted to receive any one-of many"-leads:.-oi numerous diameters; shapes; orsizes, guidetube having a slotextending longitudinally thereof, a helix turnable about saidig'uifile tube andi lead grip sleeve slidable in said guide tube and having a projection extending through the slot and operably engaging said helix, said lead grip sleeve having axially extended bowed fingers of resilient material for gripping a lead inserted therebetween.

2. In the propel-retract mechanism of a pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads of numerous diameters, shapes or sizes, a helix, a lead grip sleeve having axially extended fingers of resilient material, said fingers having outwardly bowed portions and lead gripping portions, and a guide tube in said helix and axially slidably receiving said lead grip sleeve therein and flattening the said resilient outwardly bowed portions thereby causing said lead gripping portions to grip a lead inserted therebetween, said guide tube having a longitudinal slot therein, said lead grip sleeve having a projection extending through said slot and engaging said helix to effect axial sliding of the lead grip sleeve in the guide tube upon turning of the helix relative to the guide tube.

3. In the propel-retract mechanism of a pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads of numerous diameters, shapes or sizes, a helix, 9. lead grip sleeve having axially extended fingers of resilient material, said fingers having outwardly bowed portions and lead gripping portions, a guide tube in said helix and axially slidably receiving said lead grip sleeve therein and flattening the said resilient outwardly bowed portions thereby causing said lead gripping portions to grip a lead inserted therebetween, said guide tube having a longitudinal slot therein, said lead grip sleeve having a projection extending through said slot and engaging said helix to effect axial sliding of the lead grip sleeve in the guide tube upon turning of the helix relative to the guide tube, and means for slidably moving said lead through the lead grip sleeve and outwardly through the pencil tip.

4. In the propel-retract mechanism of a pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads of numerous diameters, shapes or sizes, a guide tube terminating at the outer end thereof in a resilient grip tip, and a sleeve slidable in guide tube and having axially extended bowed fingers of resilient material for gripping a lead also gripped by said grip tip at a longitudinaly spaced point from said grip tip.

MARK E. SAVOIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,500 Ulig July 18, 1882 296,539 Cross Apr. 8, 1884 302,786 Shipley July 29, 1884 2,106,389 Blake Jan. 25, 1938 

